Yeah I don't remember being too impressed either whenever I did see him (stream was not too great). He looked like Walcott a couple of times the way he ran.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
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Lots of players are touted for great things and inevitably most fail during their 'audition'. What perhaps impressed me most was that he underplayed things, playing it simple when required, rather than doing the 'Walcott' and running like a headless chicken into nothing. For 17, seems an intelligent player, which is key at the top level.
Seems to be Arsenal bound though. Will be interesting to see his development.
Seems to be Arsenal bound though. Will be interesting to see his development.
He showed a lot of strong attributes today. Would love to see him signed up!
Apparently too subtle to notice for a couple clowns in this thread.
Apparently too subtle to notice for a couple clowns in this thread.
He looked very composed and assured for a 17 year old. Has a bright future ahead of him.
He had quite a low-key but decent game. He is pretty fast though, it would be quite interesting to see him on one flank and Walcott on the other.
So I guess the big hype of this transfer window stayed at the Saints for now anyways. Maybe Arsenal have a hidden agreement but theres been nothing reported so far!
The ESPN transfer tracker had a story that claimed Arsenal has already completed the transfer, around 10 million pounds
Could be bullshit, but then the ESPN tracker was oddly accurate today.
Could be bullshit, but then the ESPN tracker was oddly accurate today.
MANCHESTER United are poised to edge out Arsenal in the £10million scramble to sign Southampton’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
The 17-year-old, dubbed the new Theo Walcott, was all set to join the Gunners during the January transfer window.
Arsenal were on the verge of agreeing a £10m package – £5m cash plus add ons – with Saints until United suddenly made their interest known after facing the League One club in the FA Cup.
United indicated that they wanted to do the deal in the summer and would top any Arsenal fee and wages on offer to the teenage winger.
It’s now believed that United are the firm favourites to snatch Oxlade-Chamberlain, son of former England international Mark Chamberlain, from Arsenal’s clutches.
It’s understood the player is keen on joining United after originally being tempted by Arsenal, who have nurtured former Southampton protégé Walcott into an England star.
Liverpool also tried to sign Chamberlain last month but a faxed offer was dismissed out of hand by the Saints board.
United are also weighing up whether to rival Liverpool and Spurs in their moves for Blackpool’s Scottish international midfielder Charlie Adam.
Ferguson has become increasingly impressed by the player, recently suggesting that he was worth £10m for his corner-taking skills alone.
Express.co.uk - Home of the Daily and Sunday Express | Sport | Football
Could be some truth in this I seem to remember some quotes from Wenger and Hill-Wood last month where it sounded like they was spitting their dummies out a bit.
The 17-year-old, dubbed the new Theo Walcott, was all set to join the Gunners during the January transfer window.
Arsenal were on the verge of agreeing a £10m package – £5m cash plus add ons – with Saints until United suddenly made their interest known after facing the League One club in the FA Cup.
United indicated that they wanted to do the deal in the summer and would top any Arsenal fee and wages on offer to the teenage winger.
It’s now believed that United are the firm favourites to snatch Oxlade-Chamberlain, son of former England international Mark Chamberlain, from Arsenal’s clutches.
It’s understood the player is keen on joining United after originally being tempted by Arsenal, who have nurtured former Southampton protégé Walcott into an England star.
Liverpool also tried to sign Chamberlain last month but a faxed offer was dismissed out of hand by the Saints board.
United are also weighing up whether to rival Liverpool and Spurs in their moves for Blackpool’s Scottish international midfielder Charlie Adam.
Ferguson has become increasingly impressed by the player, recently suggesting that he was worth £10m for his corner-taking skills alone.
Express.co.uk - Home of the Daily and Sunday Express | Sport | Football
Could be some truth in this I seem to remember some quotes from Wenger and Hill-Wood last month where it sounded like they was spitting their dummies out a bit.
I thought Arsenal had signed him...
He'll go straight into the reserves most likely, decent talent but seems pricey to me.
Hope this is true, in recent years we've really missed out on these British youngsters thinking not only Ramsey but also Bale. Making the extra effort to get Smalling when Arsenal had a fee agreed is already reaping the rewards and Chamberlain looked a real threat when we played against him recently.
Going back to my earlier point Walcott wouldn't of been a bad signing either given how he's finally progressed this season
Going back to my earlier point Walcott wouldn't of been a bad signing either given how he's finally progressed this season
Could he be the mystery player Sky Sports was talking about? He does seem good enough for the Premier League especially given the fact that he is only 17 still.
It wasn't a done deal. They were very close but did not finish the deal.
No. He'd have been available in January plus he's more one for the future rather than one that will make a difference now
Whilst I see where you're coming from, I very much doubt you've watched a number of Southampton games to come to the conclusion that he's going to be great (he may well be but....).
Shows you how much fans are influenced by hype and the media. United are linked with hundreds of players throughout a season and inevitably some names are seized upon. It's unfair on the lad really (well of course apart
from earning £1000's), there are 10,000's of Arsenal and United fans hoping to sign some player they expect to make an immediate impact and become a 'world class' player when he's 17 and achieved nothing.
I really understand where the fans are coming from - I'm guilty if expecting everything and hyping players but 'we' really have to start giving young players a chance to 'just' play football and develop without the pressure.
Where did I say that I've come to the conclusion that he's going to be great?
I wouldn't even say Ramsey or Walcott (two of the players I mentioned that we missed out on) are great
Hows about you read what people post before getting on that horse eh lad
So you "hope it's true" that we'll sign a player that you refuse to back? Along with 2 other players you don't think "are great"?
Well I'm just glad you aren't a scout - "just buy him....don't think much of him but I'll be glad if we buy him".
You're really quite thick aren't you
Ramsey, very promising young player who looks like he'll be a fixture in the Arsenal midfield when Fabregas leaves - am I disappointed we didn't get him? Yes because he's looked very good and if he's good enough to play for Arsenal then I would think he's good enough to play for United also
Walcott, who knows if it was Wenger's fault for his slow development but he's been in good form this season and has looked like one of Arsenal's best players. Would I like to see him on United's bench, sure, he wont get in the starting 11 ahead of Nani or Valencia but he's clearly a very good player that could of been a good acquisition for United
Neither of the above players I think are great currently, nor am I predicting that either will go on to be great they're just two very promising young players as is Chamberlain hence why I do hope United sign him.
We've had young promising players previously and it hasn't worked out, other's we've brought and ended up selling as they wanted first team football but I'd much rather United signed these players rather than look on a couple of years latter and see them pulling up tree's like Bale is. Some you win some you loose but to not even be in the running for these players doesn't even give you a fighting chance
You're really quite thick aren't you
Ramsey, very promising young player who looks like he'll be a fixture in the Arsenal midfield when Fabregas leaves - am I disappointed we didn't get him? Yes because he's looked very good and if he's good enough to play for Arsenal then I would think he's good enough to play for United also
Walcott, who knows if it was Wenger's fault for his slow development but he's been in good form this season and has looked like one of Arsenal's best players. Would I like to see him on United's bench, sure, he wont get in the starting 11 ahead of Nani or Valencia but he's clearly a very good player that could of been a good acquisition for United
Neither of the above players I think are great currently, nor am I predicting that either will go on to be great they're just two very promising young players as is Chamberlain hence why I do hope United sign him.
We've had young promising players previously and it hasn't worked out, other's we've brought and ended up selling as they wanted first team football but I'd much rather United signed these players rather than look on a couple of years latter and see them pulling up tree's like Bale is. Some you win some you loose but to not even be in the running for these players doesn't even give you a fighting chance
Thick? Mmmmm what's your definition, because I'm pretty sure I don't fall into it?
You say you want United to sign Chamberlain because Walcott and Ramsey are promising "as is Chamberlain".
Answer these:
1) How are Ramsey and Walcott linked to Chamberlain?
2) Why you think Chamberlain is promising?
Firstly you're digressing massively now from claiming that I was suggesting that Chamberlain would be great - but that's acceptable as I've caught you out on your initial incorrect statement - how old are you 12?
As for your questions
1- Ramsey and Walcott are linked to Chamberlain as in my original post I claimed that both are players that United could of done with making the extra bit of effort in signing* considering how well they've done or look at Arsenal - again not claiming either are great. Smalling was another young player Arsenal were on the brink of singing and he was one that we made the extra effort in signing and he's looking the part. If Chamberlain turns out like Ramsey, Walcott or Smalling I'd much rather he be at United than Arsenal or anywhere else
*I'm not sure if there was even any interest to begin with in regards to Walcott but my point about missing out on younger players initially was mainly aimed at Ramsey and Bale - you've lost that point as you're trying to wriggle out of your uncalled for holier than thou attitude
2- Why do I think Chamberlain is promising, well for one there's the point I've already made (more than once) Arsenal seem to have a identified quite a few promising young players over recent years (again these being Walcott, Ramsey and Smalling) so (again) if Chamberlain develops the same as those then that's one reason why I would say he's a promising player
Secondly there's the way he played against United a few weeks ago, when all eyes were on him he wouldn't be the first player to then flatter to deceive but he didn't, he was a thread throughout the entire game.
At no point do I claim to have a DVD collection of his collective minutes on a competitive football pitch like you're alluding to jumping into this thread claiming that I think he's this and he's that I'm merely saying that I hope we do sign him rather than watch another good young british player end up at a rival club with us having next to no chance of signing once they become established
So calm do, stop getting excited and jumping on my post with your 'he's not qualified to talk about a player he hasn't watch week in week out for the past 10 years' attitude
Oh and yes you do fall into the thick category. Unquestionably
Firstly you're digressing massively now from claiming that I was suggesting that Chamberlain would be great - but that's acceptable as I've caught you out on your initial incorrect statement - how old are you 12?
As for your questions
1- Ramsey and Walcott are linked to Chamberlain as in my original post I claimed that both are players that United could of done with making the extra bit of effort in signing* considering how well they've done or look at Arsenal - again not claiming either are great. Smalling was another young player Arsenal were on the brink of singing and he was one that we made the extra effort in signing and he's looking the part. If Chamberlain turns out like Ramsey, Walcott or Smalling I'd much rather he be at United than Arsenal or anywhere else
*I'm not sure if there was even any interest to begin with in regards to Walcott but my point about missing out on younger players initially was mainly aimed at Ramsey and Bale - you've lost that point as you're trying to wriggle out of your uncalled for holier than thou attitude
2- Why do I think Chamberlain is promising, well for one there's the point I've already made (more than once) Arsenal seem to have a identified quite a few promising young players over recent years (again these being Walcott, Ramsey and Smalling) so (again) if Chamberlain develops the same as those then that's one reason why I would say he's a promising player
Secondly there's the way he played against United a few weeks ago, when all eyes were on him he wouldn't be the first player to then flatter to deceive but he didn't, he was a thread throughout the entire game.
At no point do I claim to have a DVD collection of his collective minutes on a competitive football pitch like you're alluding to jumping into this thread claiming that I think he's this and he's that I'm merely saying that I hope we do sign him rather than watch another good young british player end up at a rival club with us having next to no chance of signing once they become established
So calm do, stop getting excited and jumping on my post with your 'he's not qualified to talk about a player he hasn't watch week in week out for the past 10 years' attitude
Oh and yes you do fall into the thick category. Unquestionably
OK right. Well I take back the point about you claiming he would be "great". But at the same time, you said (and I quote) "I hope this happens" (in realation to signing him).
But regarding to your points:
1) It's completely irrelevant. You could argue that Ramsey was a target but Walcott? I am unaware of any firm link with Utd (as you say in your * - in which case you shoud just leave out). In either case, you could substitute any player in the world if you're going to say "United could of done with making the extra bit of effort in signing"....substitute Messi, Kaka, Villa, whatever. As I said - Utd are linked with 100's of players. Also buying players to stop them going to rivals is a ludicrous transfer policy - buy who you need, not who to stop your rivals.
2) So your reason for wanting to sign Chamberlain is that Arsenal have identified him as a target? That is just laughable. To be facectious (look in a dictionary), Wenger has also 'identified' the likes of Grimandi, Bendtner, Almunia - would you want them at Utd too?
You indicate (of course you may be a Southampton seaon ticket holder - please say if so) that you've seen him play one game...one game. What you say is "I'm merely saying that I hope we do sign him rather than watch another good young british (should be British.....*sigh*) player end up at a rival club"......as I say - apart from one game and a few newspaper articles, what basis have you spending the (very hypocritically - media suggested?) £10 million?
And although I'm not 12, I can't stand being patronised by an intellectual peon. I have a masters degree in astrophysics / maths, so enjoy flipping them burgers in McD's....or more likely, picking up them welfare cheques....or is it paid straight into the bank account?
One would think someone with a masters degree (which is bollocks) would have seen my comment regarding Walcott as a flying remark rather than claiming that we were interest in him - again because you were wrong with your initial response you're now latching on to any little thing to make your existence in this thread worth while
As for identifying Arsenal transfer targets again you use that the same way a 12 year old would (something anyone with any intelligence wouldn't do) I have merely identified Ramsey as being someone both us and Arsenal were interested in who has shown justification in that interest, Smalling as someone both us and Arsenal were interested in and has shown justification in and Bale someone both us and Spurs were interested in and has shown justification in. I would say most united fans now wish we'd of got all 3 rather than just 1 of the 3 so why is it uncalled for to hope Chamberlain isn't another one that gets away? If he turns out to be shite then fair enough but it's not like the likes of Bellion, Manucho and more than likely Bebe and Diouf has stopped our willingness to take a punt on young players has it
I'm done with you now anyway, you're not worth wasting my time with or derailing this thread further simply because you refused to grow up and admit you were incorrect a long time ago (something some big grown up master's graduate would have done)
I care not about my degrees in these arguments and am slightly embarrassed that I 'brought them out', as they are irrelevant, but I find this more difficult getting through to people on here than discussing spacetime and 'rocket science' It seems that your default defence is to say "you are like a 12 year old" without defining:
a) What part a 12 year old would say (and to note age is no barometer - there are 12 year old smarter than both of us), or;
b) Making any sense whatsover in your comments.
And what makes you think somebody with a masters degree would quite simply 'give up'? Part of my 'make up' is stubborness and argumentitiveness.
Look...I'm not saying that Chamberlain is not worth going for - without commenting on any of the above (failure to do so, I will claim victory), answer these as simply as possible:
a) Apart from Arsenal's alledged interest, why would you sign Chamberlain, and;
2) How many times have you seen him play?
Fergie talks about a player in United Review and the guesswork begins
All very predictable
All very predictable
Loving the quotes in that article...
Wayne Rooney, 25 million?
Wayne Rooney, 25 million?
Ronaldo, Anderson........... they're not v good at this are they?
Ronaldo was over £12m aswell, who writes these articles.
10 mil would be an acceptable price for him
How good a winger is this lad?
Wasn't overly impressed when we played Saints in the FA Cup. A few runs here and there and couple of miscued shots
That said, 5 million upfront and the rest on appearances/bonuses seem reasonable. You never know if he could turn out into another Gareth Bale
That said, 5 million upfront and the rest on appearances/bonuses seem reasonable. You never know if he could turn out into another Gareth Bale
Then again is he better than what we have coming up through the ranks? I don't think so...I wouldn't swap him for King/Morrison
Clearly this lad is highly rated by those in the game with big clubs sniffing around him. If Fergie deems him worthy of a first team place its presumably taken as read he's a better prospect that waht we have.
Have to say I liked the look of him in the Cup game. Good speed, few decent passes and looked mature beyond his years - which is for me the key factor in young players.
Obviously he's a bit of an unknown quantity but may be worth a punt.
If AOC is a winger, I wouldn't see the point in swapping him, and don't think it is an issue to be honest.
We could have something like this in a few years:
----Tunnicliffe--Pogba
AOC-----Morrison------Costa (for the transfer muppetry)
----------King
Obviously, odds are against it happening, but if AOC becomes/is a winger, I don't think it is a case of swapping him for young players already at the club - I think he would compliment them quite well. Bebe and Obertan might be in a bit of trouble if we did sign him though.
Really? For me it looks a lot like United's policy is to 'take a punt'.
As for promoting from within, the only wingers we have that we could really look at promoting (imo) are Bebe and Obertan, and Fergie seems to see Obretan as a more central player now, and has spoken of Bebe becoming a striker. IMO, the wing is a position we need to look at, not as the same priority (again, imo) as GK or central midfield, but we could do with a winger to provide back up and/or competition for Valencia and Nani.
I hate these no-quote, 'an insider said' type of stories
He'll likely only get some CC and early FAC appearances next season if we take him, plus maybe a few trips abroad during the CL for the experience. I'm sure he realises that he's unlikely to be a first team regular straight away.